Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Athens lowered its initial claims for unemployment in December.

According to preliminary data, Athens also saw all of its critical indicators remain positive over the year for the four-county metropolitan statistical area (MSA).

“This was a very positive year for the state,” Butler said. “We saw over-the-year growth in almost every MSA, and our key jobs sectors continue to grow as the economy expands.”

In Athens, the unemployment rate increased 0.1 percentage points in December to reach 2.5 percent. A year ago, the rate was 3.4 percent.

Athens ended December with 101,300 jobs. That number decreased by 600 jobs over the month but increased by 1,500 when compared to the same time a year ago.

The labor force decreased in December by 496. Athens ended the month with a labor force of 101,966. That number increased by 52 when compared to December of 2018.

Athens ended December with 99,402 employed residents.  That number decreased by 571 over the month but increased by 973 when compared to the same time a year ago

The number of unemployment claims went down by about 15 percent in December. When compared to last December, claims were down by 13 percent.